Established in 1993 as a response to concerns over global deforestation, FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that promotes the responsible management of the world's forests. FSC certification provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value.

As laudable as FSC certification is, many in-plant printers have been sitting on the sidelines due to the cost of independently becoming FSC certified. Those costs can easily reach many thousands of dollars a year. Group certification drastically reduces the cost of FSC certification to $1,695 per year for most organizations.

Another drawback for in-plant printers wanting to become FSC certified has been the concern that paperwork and compliance issues will absorb too much staff time. Group certification reduces much of the time commitment for certification compliance by allowing InGreen to take the responsibility for many key administrative and compliance requirements, such as documented procedures and training. The basic responsibility for the in-plant will be to order and track FSC materials using the FSC required guidelines.

With InGreen as your group administrator, you will have access to experts that you can contact for quick answers regarding the FSC process and day-to-day issues that may come up. There will be no need for you to spend precious time combing through FSC rules and regulations to find the answers to your certification compliance questions.

Many Benefits

So here's the deal: with the InGreen Program you get FSC certified as part of a group for less than half the cost of doing so independently, and as an included benefit, you get one of the keenest marketing minds in the printing and mailing industry to provide you with strategies and programs to get your message heard. Not bad.

Vic Nathan Barkin has more than 35 years of experience in the printing, paper and wood products industries and currently owns a consulting practice specializing in business development, workflow, and technology implementation, focusing on “Green Procurement and Production” practices. Vic is a QMS Lead Auditor certified to ISO 9001:2008 standards, is a consultant for the Rainforest Alliance as an FSC Chain of Custody and Controlled Wood senior auditor, is an FSC, SFI and PEFC lead auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers and SGS North America, and has engaged in more than 700 site assessments and audits.